easthigh

This web page is dedicated to the students, teachers,and all other staff of Sullivan East High School, Bluff City TN 37618

EAST HIGH PATRIOTS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE

"To Greg Littrell there were only two kinds of people in the world. The ones he had never met and his very good friends. Greg's friendship knew no degrees and the opportunity to socialize was like warm rain on Spring flowers; he thrived on it…In our classroom an awful lot of Mr. David Shumaker - Greg's classroom teacher

Mr. David Shumaker - Greg's classroom teacher

teaching has gone on during this time and Greg even allowed me to do some of it…Greg's great strength was his understanding of people. I believe that finally, I can best describe Greg by calling him a collector. While other kids collected baseball cards, stamps, rocks or athletic trophies; Greg collected friends. He never tired in his quest for new ones to add to his huge collection and he never became bored with earlier ones. Those of us here today are blessed to have been part of Greg's extraordinary collection…" Some of the comments made at Greg's funeral by his special education teacher--Mr. David Shumaker.

I has been difficult for me to start the web pages that deal with Greg and East High school. I have put a lot of thought in to what I want to include in them. For me, as his mother, the process brings emotions to the surface that I have tried very hard to conceal from myself and others. To do these pages, I must look at pictures of Greg with his school mates, teachers; counselors; custodians and administration personal. I must reread the sympathy cards that I have received. I still cannot believe that Greg is gone. Words cannot describe the hugh empty space that I have in my heart and in my life because; Greg was my life. Maybe when I have completed this project I will be able to better accept the things that I cannot change.
I am very thankful that Greg had the opportunity to attend East High and wish to thank everyone there for taking care of him and making him feel loved and accepted. Being accepted was so important to Greg and you were a success. When Greg died he felt good about himself, thanks to all of you.
Greg attended Sullivan East High School for approximately three years and had many friends there. I believe that those were probably the happiest times in his life. He looked forward to school each day because he could see and visit with his friends. He told me often that his friends looked out for him and would not let anyone hurt him or be mean to him. Those three years were the sum total of time that Greg was permitted to interact with his "normal" peers. He did not know what "normal", "appropriate" behavior at school was until he arrived at East High in 1994. He had always been denied any real interaction with other children who were considered "normal." He was always in special classes with other children who also had behavior disorders or were discipline problems. I do not wish to dwell on the bad times because it is very hard for me to deal with those memories. I can't help but feel that I failed in some way even though, deep down; I know that I did the best I could and cannot change the past or bring Greg back. Dottie Littrell - January 25, 1999

The first Special Olympics that Greg took part in. 1996

1997 - Greg proudly wearing his gold medal

I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.
II TIMOTHY 4:7

Greg was never included in the Special Olympics until he attended East High School. He was able to compete two times, and won a gold medal in the regional competition held at East Tennessee State University. This occurred in April 1997, five months before his death. I was recovering from surgery and was not able to attend the event however; I was called by his teacher and informed of Greg's amazing accomplishment before Greg got home from school. His teacher said, "Greg ran like a deer". The down side was that Greg had a seizure right after he crossed the finish line. He always gave his best effort in spite of the odds against him. The Scripture quoted above was written on a poster brought to me the day after Greg's death. There is a large picture of Greg on the front of the poster with the quote beneath. The entire inside and back of the poster contains messages to me, to Greg and about Greg, from students at the high school. I cannot read the messages on the poster without crying.

DON'T QUIT When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse,
that you must not quit.

**LINKS TO MY OTHER WEBPAGES**